I've had the legacy plan since 2006 using my Samsung SGH-X495 flip phone. The service was working generally well indoors with about 2 bars strength until this past year or so where it went to about 1 bar and then no bars most of the time. I used to be able to go outside in front of the house to get a 2-3 bar signal, but the situation has been getting progressively worse. Now I can't even get a signal out in front of my house. This is a terribly dangerous situation for me if I need to call for help in an emergency which is why i bought this plan. I don't use this phone to socialize, just to have it as needed to meet up with people or call for help. When i go elsewhere the reception is excellent-I get 5 bars along I5 and other major cities and even 4 bars in small towns in Oregon such as Jacksonville where my mom lives. I live right by Berkeley in Kensington (zip 94708) which is a major metropolitan area (San Francisco Bay Area) so this is simply unacceptable to me. I'd like some answers as to what is going on here.

Wow! Since 2006? Thank you so much for sticking by our side. I know you need your coverage to remain reliable and I believe I know exactly what's going on -- the towers in the area are no longer fully compatible with your device. To get signal at your house, you'll need a device that's compatible with band 4.

atexit8, it sounds like you may be in the same situation but I'd like to take a closer look at this. Can you provide me with your zip code and model of LG phone please?

amanda, thanks for info about my service deficiency. Can you tell me what band my current phone is working on and when exactly did service get cutoff in my area? Can you provide info on which flip phones will work in my service area? Also, I am thinking to switch to a smart phone-which is the simplest, lowest cost smart phone that will work on my legacy plan? Or can you provide a list of phones that will work? Also, if I get a smart phone will I be able to use authenticator apps on it via my legacy plan? That is the only reason I need to upgrade, so that I can login to certain web sites with that extra security feature.

Ah, I see, atexit8. It looks like Amanda's hunch was correct here -- the area where you're located is part of the Trenton market, and the network experience you're currently having is due to our Network upgrades from U1900 to LTE in that area. If this started right around the beginning of November, then that seems like the culprit, especially since the LG450 is one of the devices we know are impacted by these changes. If you're interested in hanging in there with us, your best bet for compatibility in this area and overall would be with equipment that's compatible with all three LTE signals that T-Mobile operates -- Band 2, Band 4, and Band 12.

I'm sorry for the frustration this has caused, atexit8. If you are looking for a flip phone that supports the current LTE bands we operate; this would be your best bet: Alcatel GO FLIP. That said, I totally get that buying a phone when you just purchased one last year isn't super fun.

As our network evolves, sometimes older technologies are left behind -- which does render some equipment obsolete. It honestly seems like in this situation, you need to either have equipment that will receive service, or service that works with your equipment, and I don't blame you one bit for determining which one is the most cost effective and going that route. We'd be sad to see you go, but you have to do what's best for you. I do hope that in the end it works out to be staying!

Totally reasonable question, atexit8. At this point, the direction that the network is going will be to further advance LTE coverage, since most equipment requires this kind of signal to function to its fullest potential. I know that's not something that we're used to thinking of when it comes to "flip phones", "cake phones", or what we used to call "phone first" devices, but as the network evolves, changing the compatibility of these phones is also ideal, since there are definitely folks who'd still like to use them!

But I am guessing what you really mean is that since most people care about LTE, you are essentially eliminating service on the bands that my flip phone works on. Kiss off flip phone users. We don't want you.

Ouch. You're totally entitled to your interpretation, but that's definitely not the attitude I mean to convey at all.

Over the course of time, technology changes. As it does, sometimes older tech makes way for the expansion of newer technology. What I meant to convey in my previous reply was that it's a *good thing* that there are flip phones that are being manufactured that are LTE compatible, since there are customers who like them and we would love for them to stick around! Hopefully more flip phones that are LTE compatible will be available as these changes continue.

I'm sorry, atexit8. I wasn't intending to be vague by simply linking to the Network upgrades from U1900 to LTE document. You're right that the network in this area has changed, and the LG450 no longer works as well because the part of the network (U1900) it was connecting to has been upgraded to LTE. These changes will be advantageous for the majority of our existing customers, who rely on LTE for voice and data connectivity. Although we're always happy to welcome new customers to the fold, that is not to say that we no longer want customers who use flip phones in general, or that new customers are more important -- that's not the case.

It sounds like your experience using an older device on a competitor's network has been wholly different -- I'm glad to hear that, but bummed that we couldn't follow suit for you. You'd previously asked if there were any flip phones that would be compatible with the network upgrades, and that was the reason I'd linked to the Alcatel device and expressed my hope that more manufacturers will follow suit. I get that saying that the situation is inconvenient for customers whose equipment is out-moded because of these changes is an understatement.

Thanks for taking the time to let us know the impression that these changes have made on you. While I wish it were different, it's valuable feedback, and I appreciate your candor.

I posted this reply below 2 months ago and have not received a response. I need more info, please help and please don't ignore my thread.

amanda, thanks for info about my service deficiency. Can you tell me what band my current phone is working on and when exactly did service get cutoff in my area? Can you provide info on which flip phones will work in my service area? Also, I am thinking to switch to a smart phone-which is the simplest, lowest cost smart phone that will work on my legacy plan? Or can you provide a list of phones that will work? Also, if I get a smart phone will I be able to use authenticator apps on it via my legacy plan? That is the only reason I need to upgrade, so that I can login to certain web sites with that extra security feature.